Daily National Intelligencer

MARTINIQUE, (St. Pierre,) MAY 30.

Extrait de diverses depeches recues par M. le Comte de Vaugiraud du Lieutenant-general Sir James Leith, Commandant en chief les forces de Sa Majeste Britannique aux Antilles.

On board his Britannic Majesty's Sloop Crescent, 18th May, 1815.

I trust I need not say much to convince your Excellency of the deep interest which my Royal Master takes in the prosperity of your August Sovereign Louis 18th. I hope that your Excellency will experience the decided support of the Colony under your government in the cause of your virtuous king, of legitimate authority, and of justice.

I trust that nobler motives will actuate the colonists of France than the too selfish regard to their own interests alone; but it will not be doing injustice to their honor and patriotism, to make it clearly understood, the fidelity of the colonies to their virtuous and legitimate King Louis the 18th can alone shield them from danger; and that I cannot promise them a moment's security from blockade, beyond the first act of disloyalty.

I would wish it to be understood with equal clearness that while the French colonies shall continue to be faithful to their king, I shall feel happy in giving every support in my power to the independence of the legitimate authority of the Bourbon family, and to cultivate the relations of peace and amity which now so happily subsist between our respective sovereigns.

Head-Quarters, Barbadoes, May 20, 1815.

You are too well acquainted with the relations which have subsisted between our sovereigns, to have believed in the idle or mischievous tales of those who have endeavored to distract the French colonists by circulating reports of the British force under my command in the West Indies being about to attack Martinique. I should not have thought it incumbent on me to take any notice of rumors so unfounded; as it now is, I have only to give them a decided contradiction.

I have not time to enter into details, but I have the honor to state to Your Excellency that I am empowered by my Royal Master to assist you in preserving the Sovereignty of Martinique to H.s Most Christian Majesty Louis 18th. I have therefore to make this communication to your Excellency, and to dissipate every doubt or misconception of the pure and disinterested intentions of the Prince Regent.

I do not impute to the Colonists motives of any nature which are not proper, but if they were to be guided by self interest alone, they would not effectually secure their agriculture, their commerce and prosperity by any other means than by maintaining the legitimate rights of Sovereignty to the illustrious head of the Bourbons.

Your Excellency, as I have already stated in a former letter, will easily perceive that the rebel flag would be the signal promptly followed by us for blockade and the utter and unavoidable ruin of the Colony.

Such a result I can never contemplate as possible under the judicious and firm exercise of Your Excellency's honorable devotion to your virtuous Sovereign, aided by the loyalty, justice and regard of their families and property; which must influence the good sense and feeling of the Colonists of Martinique.

(Signed)

JAMES LEITH,

Lieut. Gen. Capt. Gen. Commander of the Land Forces of H. B. M.